Shielded operator assembly for valved nozzles



Dec. 4, 1951 w. TUTTLE ETAL 2,577,245

SHIELDED OPERATOR ASSEMBLY FOR VALVED NOZZLES Filed Nov. 2, i949 IN VEN TORS WAINWRIGHT "Bu'r'rLE BY Torwas A. C. 50TH A TTO/P/VEKS' Patented Dec. 4, 1951 SHIELDED OPERATOR ASSEMBLY FOR ,VALVED NOZZLES Wainwright Tattle, Milford,;and-'1on.ies A. c.

- Both, .Stratford, Conn.

Application November 2, 1949,. Serial No. 125,144 1 e Glaims. (01.299-.-149).

This invention relates .to a shielded operator assembly particularly'adapted for applicationto a container of the type that is not refillable by the'user and contains fiuid under pressure with the container incorporating a built-in assembly including a nozzle controlled by a valve having an operator.- Such atype is currently popular for domestic use with the container having the approximate appearance-of the seamless crown top .type of can, and with the fluid including an insecticide, deodorant, or other material-which may-be ejected as a pressure spray by the user without requiring the operation of a pump.v The mentioned assembly is applied to the mouth instead of a crown top.

A commercially successful formoi the above type uses a nozzle, valveand operatorarran'gement'visibly evidenced by a tube projecting upwardly from the mouth of the container with this tubehaving an orifice near its top and with its bottom connecting with a valve arrangement constructed so that when the tube itself is rocked or canted the valve is opened and the contents of the container is ejected through the orifice. The tube itself functions as a combined. nozzle and operator. for the valve. The assembly is inexpensive, efiective and convenient for the ultimate user who merely tilts or rocks the tube by finger pressure to obtain the desired ejection" of material.

But the above described type of nozzle, valve and operator assembly has the disadvantage that it is susceptible to valve operation during its shipment or during handling incidental to its merchandising. The tubemay be provided with a covering cap which is itself pushed transversely of the container to operate the tube, but even sowthe cap is subject to accidental displacement. This disadvantage has necessitated temporarily sealing the tube action by plastic bands or coverings which must be torn. off by the ultimate user before the device can be operated. The plastic band does not prevent a sufiiciently heavy force.

from operating the valve.

One ofthe objects of the present invention is to .provide'a shielded operator assembly particularly' adapted for use when the operator comprises.

particularly adapted for application. tc":the...de-.;

scribed type of container provided with the-de-r scribed type of assembled nozzle, valve andoperator, with the shielded assembly capable of being designed so it is pleasing to the eye, so it 'adequatelyprotects against inadvertent discharge of the contents "of the container, so it is sturdy enough to resist blows during shipment of they container and so it permits ready usecof the device by anyone deliberately intendingtoido so and without requiring the reading of extensive instructions. r s

Other objects may. beinferred from the. following disclosure of a specific example disclosed'torv the purpose of. explaining the principles and operation of the invention. This example is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a container embody.- ing the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view 'of Fig. 1 showing the. new shielded operator assembly as it permits working of the operator. controlling'the valve;

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2,"but with the assembly as it prevents such operation;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section taken from the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. -5' is an elevation of details illustrated by Fi 4, and I Fig. 6 Ba top view of Fig. 5.

These drawings show the container comprising a seamless drawn can body! with the shoudered top -2 and generabdimensions characteristic ofthe seamless crown top type of can currently used to vend beer; The mouth of thelcontainer-isformedto providea bead 3. In this instance the diameter of the beaded mouth is a little largerthamnormally provided to receive a crown top.

The construction of the can may be otherwise altered from-'thetypical can of comparable type, 3 asby having its bottommore deeply-spherical to better'resist internal pressure. The container need notbemade of steeLbutmight verywellbe" drawn. and formed-from sheet brass, particularly if it is intended to be returned to the manufac turerforxrefilling' with the fluid underflpressurew The type of container under discussion is normally not refillable- Inthis. specific.v example the described type of nozzle, valve and operator assembly is used There are various examples of this typein theprior art, but the one;,specificall y disclosed'herein isv of a. novel form disclosed and claimed'in a copendingapplication entitled Dispensing- Ap paratus filed by Niles Otto Loven'and'dofin'fi Eiford; November 10, 1947 and bearingSerialNo.

785,158. The present invention: may be used; .in

connection with other types of assemblies incorporating a lever-like operator. v

The illustrated assembly includes a valve cup 4 having an apertured bottom engaged beneath the peripheral radial flange 6 of a spring cup I and on top of which an elastic diaphragm 8 of easy flexible deformability is placed. This diaphragmzmay be made of elastic material. The bottom of the valve cup 4 is reversely bent to provide a flange 5a supporting peripheries of both the spring cup flange 6 and the diaphragm 8, and is then extended upwardly and radially inwardly to provide a flange 9' terminating with a horizontal hole Ill. The valve cups bottom parts 5a and 9 clamp therebetween the spring cup flange 6 and the diaphragm 8 firmly and fluid tightly. The bottom of the spring cup I has a central hole with a depending sleeve II which is inwardly turned at I2 on a stand pipe I3 positioned in the sleeve I I and retained thereby the turned portion I2. This stand pipe I3 extends to the bottom of the container and preferably to the bottom periphery of the latter. The containers bottom is normally in the form of an upwardly projecting spherical segment to resist internal pressure and this shape traps fluid at the periphery-hence the preferred stand pipe arrangement.

A conical spring I4 is positioned in the spring cup 6 with its large end around the hole of the sleeve I I and with its small end pushing upwardly on a valve head. This valve head includes a short vertical tube section I5 having its top end closed and its bottom end flanged outwardly at I6 and upwardly at I! with the periphery of the upwardly extending flange I'I bearing against the bottom of the elastic diaphragm 8 and with the diaphragm taking the upward reaction of the spring I4. The bottom of the cup 7 receives the downward reaction from this spring. A valve stem sleeve is provided in the form of a second short tube section I'Ia that fits over the valve head tube section I5 with a press fit, the bottomof this tube section I'Ia being flanged radially outwardly at I8 and downwardly at I9 so that the top of its flange I8 bears against the bottom of the diaphragm 8 and the bottom of its flange I9 bears against the top of the flange I 6 of the valve head. The interfaces between the tube section I5. and I11; and between the bottom of the flange I9 and the top of the flange I6 are relatively shaped in one instance or the other or in both instances to provide fluid passages 20, and the top of the tube section ,I'Ia of the valve stemhas an orifice 2|.

The rocking or tilting tube forming the come bination operator and nozzle is in the form of along vertical tube 22 that is press fitted over.

the tube section I Ia of the valve stem sleeve with its bottom end flanged at 23 and pressing tightly on top of the elastic diaphragm 8. This long tube section 22 has a closed top and a transverse nozzle or jet orifice 24. This long tube 22 functions as a valve stem. Its flange. 23 presses against the diaphragm top so that in cooperation with the flange I8 a fluid tight seal is formed.

The top periphery of the wall 4 of the valve cup 5 is turned over the containers bead 3 at 25 with a valve cup seal or ring gasket 26 providing.

fluid tightness when the wall portion 25 is forced downwardly by a special tool while the wall 4 is headed outwardly as shown at 21 to hold the seal in compression.

With this improved assembly the container I isfluid-tightly sealed even though the fluid it contains may be under considerable super atmospheric pressure. The container may be shipped or stored without fear of loss of the contents of the can I so long as the valve stem tube 22 is not tilted. When this valve stem tube 22 is tilted or rocked by the application of force either intentionally or accidentally, this valve stem tilts by deflection 'of the elastic diaphragm I9 and the spring I4 so as to tilt the edge of the flange I'I away from the bottom of the diaphragm 8. The latter and the spring I4 elastically deform to permit this action. The diametrically opposite side of the flange II functions as a fulcrum against the bottom of the diaphragm 8. As soon as this occurs the fluid under pressure can pass between the separated portions of the flange I1 and diaphragm 19, through the passages 29, the orifice 2I and through the tube 22 and out its orifice 24. The turbulence created by the various expansion chambers and abrupt turns provided by the various parts results in the development of a very finely atomized spray when the fluid in the can is a liquid. With the liquid acting as a carrier for an insecticide, deodorant or other active material, the active material is dispersed throughout the atmosphere in a very desirable manner.

According to the present invention a hollow dome or rounded shield 28 protects the tube 22 which projects outwardly from the diaphragm 8 far enough to provide the valve control. This dome is adapted to be applied over the top hole of the container I by being provided with adepending cylindrical skirt 29 that closely encircles the bead 3 of the mouth of the container and the flange portion 25 of the valve cup 4. This flange portion 25 does not depend to the top shoulder of the container I, so an annular space is thus left. The depending skirt 29 is provided with inwardly extending projections 30 which clip in this annular space when the dome and its skirt are pressed forcibly downwardly.

The fit between the inside of the skirt 29 and the outside of the flange portion 26 which it encircles is a sliding fit permitting rotation of the dome 28 upon the application of adequate torque. Preferably the parts are made relatively tightly fitting so that a fair amount of force is required to rotate the dome, but the flt should be adjusted so that the amount of force required is well within the limits capable of manual exertion. The outside of the skirt 29 is roughened as by having closely spaced vertical flutes 3| whereby to provide a good finger grip. The skirt 29 may be made slightly out-of-round as a practical way for obtaining a tight but rotative fit with the portion 26, the latter being made circular. Thus the skirt may be made slightly elliptical.

Further in accordance with the present invention, a lever member in the form of a flat horizontal tongue 32 is fastened to the tube 22 so that this tongue 32 extends transversely therefrom. When this tongue 32 is depressed by the finger for example it rocks the valve stem 22 so as to eflect the valve operation previously described. As shown, the tube 22 is substantially concentric with the containers mouth, so that the dome rotates or turns substantially concene.

its longitudinal split 34 providing clearance for.

ing side walls 31.

the orific'e 24. Thus" the tongue 32 is angularly related respecting the orifice" 24- radially of the tube 22. In the? drawings this relationship is shown asbeing IBO -apart, oriin other words with the tongue'3-2 extending diametrically from the tube 22 respecting the nozzle orifice 24 of this tube; & This relationship is maintained by providing' the: tube 22 with an outwardly projecting key stud portion or projection 35 axially aligned With'the-orifice Zsand which is therefore embracedhy the split 34 of thehub 33. The tube 22 is alsoprovided with a shoulder (seeFigure 5) restricting downward motion'of the hub-33.

The elasticity of the hub permits wider manufacturing tolerances while permitting high-speed manual assembly of the parts. Preferably the hub 33 drops treely ontothe tube nozzle butif made undersize-the elasticity provides for installation by: very light forcefitting. y

Any possibility of accidental excessivempward displacement of theflhub 33 from the tube 22, such as mightrelease the split 33 from the key projection stud35, is prevented by the hub 33 being made long enough to project upwardly and engage the bottom of the dome 28 before separation of the split and key stud can occur. The dome provides a closed wall completely covering the top of the tube 22 at all times. The relation between the bottom of the dome 28 and the top of the hub; 34 should not be such as to prevent proper rocking of the tube 22. If during shipping vibration for example'the' hub -33 slips upwardly so as to engage the bottom of the dome top 23, pressure on the tongue 32 causing rocking of the valve stem-tube 22 exerts a replacing pressure plus a cam action between the top of thehub 34 and the bottom 01- the dome 28. Therefore, the hub 34 is positively replaced to its proper position where there is a very slight clearance between the top of the hub 34 and the bottom of the dome top. In the case of a free fit the hub 33 drops naturally to its proper position when the device is positioned upright.

As illustrated the dome 28 is provided with diametrically opposite openings. These are spaced to either side of the top of the dome and extend down its .wall. One of the openings 33 points downwardly and is provided with upwardly taper- The size of this opening is designed to accommodate the average index finger and so that when the dome 28 is turned to register this opening 36 above the tongue 32 the latter may be conveniently depressed by the index finger. The other hole 38 opens transversely from the dome so as to register with the nozzle orifice 24 of the valve stem tube 22 when the opening 36 is registered above the tongue 32. An attractive appearance results by bounding this opening 38 with outwardly flaring walls 39 and a bottom horizontal wall 40. The dome 28 is illustrated as comprising a single piece of sheet material such as a sheet metal stamping integrally providing both the dome 28 and the dome skirt 29, and the various walls 31, 39 and 40. The fluted periphery 3| may be provided by a separate ring pressed over the skirt 29 or may be integrally formed in the skirt. 7

The tongue 32 and its hub 33 are also made from sheet metal as are all the various parts of the nozzle, valve and operator assembly, except, of course, the diaphragm 8 which may be made of natural or synthetic rubber or other material having suitable elastic properties. The sheet metal used may be either sheet steel or brass.

Assembly of the various parts is easy. The hub heath the flangeportion 25. This automatically anchors the hub 33 against excessive upward movement. The holes. 36 and 38 in the dome 28 must be oriented I to permit simultaneousreg-istration "with the nozzle orifice 24 and the tongue lever operator 32 upon appropriate rotation .of

thedome-28. v

. With the dome 28 turned to the position shown by Fig. 3 the container is ready for shipment. There is obviously no chance for inadvertent depression of the lever 32 or movement ofthe valve stem 22 during shipment, storage or merchandising of the device. This is true even though a large number ofithe devices are jumbled together for display. The. need for plastic seals or tapes, or other insecure expedients is eliminated. But notethat both the jet .orifice and the operator are protected by the dome wall which covers both when turned to cover either. A plastic band or covering'may be applied, however, to assure customers that they are purchasing an unused and brand new device. 1

' The ultimate user merely, twists the dome 28 to the position shown by. Fig. 3. No instructions are required. because the flutes 3! provide a psychological invitation to turn the dome 28. By putting the legend press on top of the tongue lever operator 32, as shown, the user is induced to stop turning the dome 28 at the proper point. The user is also induced to press the tongue 32. The flat wall 40 of the nozzle opening 38 in the dome normally warns the user that it is this direction in which the spray discharge will occur. If desired this wall 48 may be colored red as a further warning to the user. Taking all these things into consideration it is now obvious that the present invention provides a practically foolproof shielded nozzle and valve assembly for a container of the type adapted to hold fluid under pressure and having the described type of nozzle, valve and operator which is normally tilted to effect spray action.

As a feature of this foolproofness the tongue I 32 is made long enough to overlie the container mouth bead 3 and is spaced just a little abo v e the top of the flange 25 by the shoulder 36. The arrangement is such that the tongue engages the flange 25 when pressed just enough for effective valve action in the manner described. Further pressure such as might damage the valve parts is prevented from reaching these parts by the container mouth or head providing a reaction therefor, that is to say the tongue pressure is transmitted to the top of the flange 25 and so to other parts. Thus it is almost impossible to damage the parts protected and shielded by the assembly of the present invention.

. The shield 28 and the tongue 32 and its hub 33 may be made of a suitable plastic instead of metal. Polystyrene may be used for example. Metal has been described as being elastic, which is intended to mean that the material is elastically deformable when the parts described are placed under beam stress by manual force. That is to say, the parts are springy so the hub may be expanded in a springy manner where it is split and the skirt 29 may be pushed over the shoulder or bead formed by the flange portion 25 so the projections 30 can snap into the annular space formed therebeneath. Plastics are available which also provide such elasticity or springiness.

In some instances the tube 22 has its orifice 24 in the top end of this tube so the material is ejected longitudinally from the tube. In such instances the portion of the shield 28 having the .openingi38 may be formed as a continuation of the general spherical shape with the opening 38 shiftedto the top of the shield above the end of the tube 22. When rearranged in this manner the opening may be in the form of a round hole adequately large in diameter to assure clearance for it to operate when the tube 22 is tilted to open the valve. Rotation of the shield continues to function in this rearrangement to protect the lever "32 by covering it or to expose this lever depending'on the rotative position of the shield.

We claim:

1. A shielded operator assembly including a manually worked operator, a shield with an opening therethrough, said shield being mounted to move between positions respectively registering said opening with said operator to permit the latter to be manually worked and covering said operator to protect it, said operator comprising a lever extending transversely from a nozzle tube adapted to be manually swung to operate a valve therefor and having a jet orifice pointing radially away from said lever, and with said shield rotating between said positions around said tube and including a second openin oriented respecting the first-named opening so that rotation of said shield to said registering position registers said second opening with said jet orifice and rotation to said other position coverssaid jet orifice. I

' 2. An assembly as defined by claim 1 with said lever having a hub slidably fitted over said tube with a clearance space for said jet orifice and with a portion extending axially beyond said tubes end opposite that operating its valve, and with said shield extending over said hub portion to hold said hub on said tube.

3. An operator for a nozzle tube adapted to be manually SWllllg to operate a valve therefor, said operator comprising a hub adapted to be fitted over said tube with a lever extending transversely from said hub, said tube having a transverse jet orifice and said hub having a clearance opening therefor.

WAINWRIGI-IT TUTTLE. TONJES A. C. BOTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

